NOSTALGIC – Let’s turn nostalgic and recall the ‘70s, ‘80s, and up to mid-‘90s when Philippine cinema was at its peak. In terms of box-office and artistry.
In the ‘70s and ‘80s as many as four local films were shown simultaneously in Metro Manila theaters every week. Local films also ruled provincial theaters.
Hollywood films – many of them, anyway – were ignored.
Lino Brocka, Ishmael Bernal, Celso Ad. Castillo, Elwood Perez, Peque Gallaga, Butch Perez, Marilou Abaya, Laurice Guillen, among others, made their best movies.
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TITLES, TITLES – How about mentioning some of showbiz titles?
FERNANDO POE JR. – The King.
RUDY FERNANDEZ – The Other King.
DOLPHY – Comedy King.
BOYET DE LEON – Drama King.
LORNA TOLENTINO – Drama Queen.
BONG REVILLA – Titanic Action Star.
LITO LAPID – King of Stunt.
ROBIN PADILLA – Bad Boy (originally held by the late Ace Vergel.)
SOAP QUEENS – Claudine Barretto, Judy Ann Santos, Kristine Hermosa, Angel Locsin.
RICHARD GUTIERREZ – Primetime King.
BROWN ADONIS – Richard Gomez (Mario Montenegro in the ‘50s.)
JUKEBOX KING, QUEEN – Rico J. Puno, Imelda Papin.
KRIS AQUINO – Massacre Queen.
CONCERT KING, QUEEN – Martin Nievera, Pops Fernandez.
MR. PURE ENERGY – Gary Valenciano
SEX QUEEN – Rosanna Roces
GRANDSLAM STARS – Nora Aunor, Vilma Santos, Lorna Tolentino, Elizabeth Oropesa, Glydel Mercado, Ronaldo Valdez, Sharon Cuneta, Nida Blanca, Boyet de Leon.
Then winning four major awards was needed to be called grandslam star: FAMAS, Urian, Star, Luna (Film Academy of the Philippines).
PILITA CORRALES – Asia’s Queen of Song.
ACTORS OF THE DECADE – In the ‘80s Urian named the following: Nora Aunor, Vilma Santos, Phillip Salvador, Gina Alajar, Boyet de Leon, and the late Vic Silayan.
TESSIE TOMAS – First Lady of TV.
Well, don’t have to repeat the titles of Nora, Vilma, Sharon, and Maricel Soriano.